Tag: seniors

The Celebrating Seniors Series runs every 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Sherwood Forest Branch Library from 2 to 3 pm.

There is a Francophone Senior’s Group at the Cherrryhill Library every Friday from 1 to 3 pm.

There is a seniors Current Events Discussion Group at the Masonville Library every Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 until May 18th.

City is Looking for your Input

RANKED BALLOT: You can give feedback on this question either through the survey or to Councillor Squire (psquire@london.ca)

There is also a public participation meeting at city hall on Saturday, April 22 at 11 am on the topic. Anyone can attend to speak to all members of Council on this matter. If you can’t make the meeting but want to have members of council get your message, you can include a letter on the meeting agenda if you get it to csaunder@london.ca by 9 AM April 13th

STRENGTHENING NEIGHBOURHOODS STRATEGY: There are a number of open houses on this topic between March 28 and 30th, including one at Medway Arena on the 29th from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. Go to the engage London site for other times and locations. There is also an on line survey and comment form. City staff are looking for your comments by March 31.

Mark your calendar for the annual general meeting and Community Get Together (we are planning a BBQ) starting at about 6 pm. We will be joined by Councillor Squire who will give us a City Hall update and respond to your questions. Bring a neighbour and spread the word.

We have some small lawn signs to help publicize the event. If you are willing to have one on your lawn for a couple of weeks, please let me know.

MEDWAY SENIORS on MAY 13

On Wednesday, May 13th from 2 to 3 p.m at the Sherwood Library, please join us for an informative and interactive presentation “Brain Gym Refresh by Susan Vrancic from the Waverley Retirement Residence. The session is free with no registration required. Bring a friend! For more information, call 519-473-9965.

GREAT NEAR CAMPUS NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY REVIEW

There is a public participation meeting at City Hall on May 19th from 7:30 pm in the City Council Chambers regarding this initiative. City Staff will present draft terms of reference to the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC). If you can’t make the meeting, but wish to have your comments on the agenda, write to hlysynsk@london.ca with a note that asks to have your submission included on the May 19th agenda of PEC.

COUNCILLOR SQUIRE HAS AN OPEN HOUSE ON MAY 21

If you can’t get to the AGM on May 28th to hear from and ask questions of Councillor Squire, he is holding a community meeting on May 21 at Kings College from 7 pm. Please spread the word.

MEDWAY VALLEY HERITAGE FOREST ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT AREA (ESA)

Here is a flyer from the City about happenings to protect our ESA. There are a number of links in the flyer that will take you to additional information including the ongoing Conservation Master Plan (CMP). City staff indicate that they plan to make a presentation to the City Council’s Planning and Environment Committee this summer about the CMP. Stay tuned.

WATERMAIN WORK HAS STARTED

The City of London has awarded a contract to Fer-Pal Construction Limited for the 2015 Structural Lining Program. The work will include the cleaning and structural lining of existing watermains on the following streets including restoration of roadways, curb and gutters, sidewalks, driveways, and boulevards that are disturbed during construction:

The next community meeting will be on Wednesday, January 29th starting at 7:00 pm in the Orchard Park Public School gym. There will be coffee (supplied by Councillor Branscombe) and treats. Councillor Branscombe and the Sherwood Forest School site committee hope to bring you an update on the future of the school site. Also, city staff will provide an update on the proposed secondary suite (“Granny Suite”) by-law. City staff will also update us on its Adopt an ESA program program. Volunteers from the community will be invited to participate. The other item of business will be a summary of the city’s presentation on the Medway Valley Conservation Master Plan. Please contact Sandy Levin if there are other matters you feel should come before the community at this meeting.

A Community meeting will be held in late January to update you on the Sherwood Forest School Site and the Medway Valley Environmentally Significant Area Conservation Master Plan. Look for an e-mail and flyer in your mailbox early in January

SHERWOOD FOREST SCHOOL SITE UPDATE

The Executive and School Site Committee have continued working to see if there is a way to retain at least some park land at the Sherwood Forest School site. The deadline for the public bodies, including the City and the other school boards, to make an offer to the Thames Valley District School Board is December 22. If no offers are received, the TVDSB then has a process to solicit sealed bids for the site. This will occur early in the new year. Any new purchaser at that point would have to apply to the City for a rezoning to the property. However, there would be no requirement for them to retain any green space. There would be a public process for any change in land use. Stay tuned.

ADOPT an ESA (Environmentally Significant Area)

The city has asked for community groups like ours to sponsor an ESA. Naturally for us this would mean the Medway Valley Heritage Forest. The projects suggested would include buckthorn busting, litter clear up (thankfully not a big problem in our area), tree planting (which we have done successfully). The action item is if there is someone in the area who is willing to lead, particularly in ensuring we meet the requirements of the program. Have a look at the program guide.

After you have had a chance to look it over, please let Sandy know if you are interested in taking on the lead in organizing events and reporting back to the city or in helping to form a working group to take this on. The plan is to discuss this program at the upcoming January meeting.

DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF “ORCHARD PARK THROUGH THE AGES”?

“Orchard Park Through the Ages” was a publication prepared by Orchard Park Public School as a 25th anniversary project about 25 years ago. Dyanne Wheatley is looking for a copy. If you can help her, write her at (dywheatley1787@rogers.com)

RENTAL LICENSING – an easy way to look up if a house is licensed to have renters

Recently a rental look up became available through the City’s website. It actually includes more than rental information. Click here for the site, but if it does not work just go to the City’s website and key in rental units, then click on PROPERTY INQUIRY SYSTEM and go from there.

MEDWAY SENIORS’ EVENT

WHEN: Wednesday, December 11th from 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Library
WHAT: “Christmas Social and Celebration of Holiday Traditions”

Please join us to share. We plan to share some readings, holiday trivia, music and good cheer.

This event is free with no registration required. Bring a friend! For more information, call 519-473-9965.

GRANNY SUITES / SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS

The Planning Act, through changes made by Bill 140 Strong Communities through Affordable Housing Act, 2011, requires municipalities to update their Official Plan policies and regulations related to secondary dwelling units.

The City of London Official Plan currently provides for secondary dwelling units within single and semi-detached dwellings subject to conditions. Now with changes made by Strong Communities through Affordable Housing Act, 2011, the Official Plan must include polices for secondary dwelling units as-of-right within townhouse and accessory structures in addition to single and semi-detached dwellings.

City Staff proposed our area as one of the Great Near Campus Neighbourhoods, be excluded as it is contrary to the effort to halt the proliferation of rental properties. This is because there is no easy way to police if a granny suite is for a family member or just a rental unit. However, Council referred this matter back to staff for further consultation. Sandy has been in touch with the city’s planning staff to arrange a meeting for the Executive prior to staff reporting back to City Council.

The Thames Valley District School Board is moving ahead with the provincially mandated 90 day period of asking other public bodies (the other school boards, the city, the University, etc) if they are interested in buying the site. The city has told us it will not be buying the site for parkland or community use, and cannot (under the Municipal Act) buy it for a private use, be it a school, church or business. If none of the public bodies step up, the TVDSB begins a sealed bid process. Whether or not the TVDSB will vary the process is up to the Trustees.

If the site is sold to a private interest, any change in use of the site from a publicly funded school will require a rezoning. As this is a public process, residents within a 120 m of the site will be notified by mail, a sign will be posted on the site and the Ratepayer’s Association notified. It is only then will we have some idea of what will happen to the site.

Sarnia Road Widening

The city’s preliminary 20 year transportation plan now calls for the widening of Sarnia from Wonderland to Sleightholme to start in 2016. Keep in mind, this is preliminary and not yet part of the city’s capital budget. More information will be forthcoming once the city budget is tabled later in the year.

Please join us for this interesting and informative session. This event is free with no registration required. Bring a friend!
For more information, call 519-473-9965.
REMINDERS

Catch Basins Clear?

With fall, comes the fall of leaves. They can block catch basins and in storm, water can back up into the streets or garages. If you have a catch basin near your home, please try to keep it clear.

Keep the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Special?

This time of year, the Valley really shows off. When you are out enjoying the display of colour, please remember to stay on the trails. Dogs and people off trail can cause disturbances to the plants and animals that make their homes in the Valley. Please also remember that bike riding is only permitted in the loop between the Longbow and Doncaster Gate entrances.